=A=

Seven angrily kicked at the punching bag, throwing a series of punches to follow up. Physical exercise was an excellent way to relieve stress, but she didn't care much about health benefits at the moment. She wanted only to channel her feelings and give them a tangible form.

Never once had she felt this emotional with Chakotay.

That was probably why they'd fallen apart in the first place.

Ripping off her gloves, she stood in the relative silence of the gym. It was 0330. It was also impossible to sleep. She took the lift to the ground floor.

Her sweat cooled in the brisk wind outside. She breathed deeply, looking out over the Academy grounds and buildings. A walk was in order—anywhere but here was acceptable.

While she gazed at the stars, feet carrying her along the way, Chakotay came floating back in shards of memories…him teaching her about the constellations of his people, the stories behind each, how their movements shifted and interacted. He seemed to find wisdom and clarity in the stars.

When she had decided to go, he had smiled. Had he read it in the sky?

He'd let her go. Without a problem and without incident…instead encouraging her to explore the full spectrum of human experience. Even now, a year later, she wondered how he was able to do it. He must have read her feelings, he must have known what she needed before she'd been aware of it. Her life experience had dramatically expanded thanks to the freedom he had given her—the past year had turned her into an infinitely more mature Seven of Nine. No longer innocent, and no longer in need of counsel. She'd come to know herself deeply.

Thoughts of Chakotay calmed her, and she briefly considered sending him a message. They kept in touch regularly and remained on friendly terms. He had also matured; she knew he had recently rediscovered his roots and was working both as a spiritual healer and researcher on behalf of his people. He seemed happy.

She looked down at her feet.

"Thank you for your honesty, Captain. I will not trouble you any longer."

Where was her happiness?

=A=

"Kole, I have a favor to ask of you." Admiral Janeway glanced up from the paperwork she'd now read 30 times.

"Of course, Admiral. What can I do for you?" Kole's warm brown eyes seemed to understand that Janeway was struggling with something. Her empathy made her a valuable assistant and occasional confidante, and was usually perfectly timed.

"I need you to locate Chakotay for me. Can you do it as quickly as possible?"

Kole smiled knowingly. "Done. Anything else I can get for you? Another cup?"

"Yes, please," Janeway replied, hoping to finish her reading within the hour. She settled in again, leaning back in her comfortable chair.

Not ten minutes later, Kole reappeared.

"That was easy. Chakotay is planetside on a research trip, studying ancient healing artifacts found near his ancestral home. He received grants from several prominent donors—not hard to track."

Janeway's relief at the good fortune was evident. "Excellent. I'd like to contact him—can you open a channel for me in five?"

Again Kole's perceptiveness asserted itself. "Yes, ma'am. I'll get you a secure personal channel. Not a problem."

The Admiral finished another few pages of the report and then waited as the channel was opened to a location much nearer the Equator. She imagined Chakotay, dressed out of uniform, sweating in the tropical weather. It had been some months since they last spoke to each other—she wondered if he would look different, or if he had kept to his usual style.

At that moment his face appeared. He smiled broadly. "Kathryn. It's good to hear from you again."

His face looked much the same—a little older, with some facial hair, but still recognizable as Chakotay. She grinned back at him. "It's good to see you too. I heard you're doing some research. Found anything of interest yet?"

He shrugged. "A few things, but I doubt you called me to hear about that. What's on your mind?"

"I've always loved that I can't bullshit you, Chakotay."

"Are you sure about that?" he joked. "I remember quite a few times where you didn't take to that ability very kindly…"

"I know. I was stubborn," Janeway admitted, chuckling a little, then sobered as she prepared to discuss the real reason she'd contacted him. "It's about Seven."

She was surprised when his face lit up with humor.

"Clearly you know something I don't," Janeway murmured, hoping he would explain himself.

His brown eyes were gentle. "No…I just knew that you would ask me about this," he responded. "Someday, I mean."

In the perplexed silence, he laughed to himself. "Frankly, it's about time."

"And just what is it that I'm going to ask you about?" Janeway was somewhat irritated that Chakotay apparently knew a lot more than she did.

"You're going to ask me what happened to her…maybe what happened between us…and maybe why she is enrolled at the Academy," he postulated indifferently, obviously without residual feelings left over from the relationship. He held her eyes. "Am I right?"

Janeway leaned back in her chair, face unreadable. "Go on."

He sat quietly for a few moments. "It's a very short story. Seven decided to leave and I told her to go. It had been clear to me, for some time, that she needed to be doing something else," he began, eyes slightly distant as he recollected past events that Janeway could only guess at. "Like finding herself. As I was also reconnecting with myself and my ancestors, I understood her situation. I let her go—and that's why she disappeared."

"I see. Quite a short story," Janeway agreed. "More simple than I would have expected. And the Academy?"

At this, Chakotay looked to the side for a second. "I think that's for you to ask her, if you don't already know yourself."

Janeway knew Chakotay as well as anyone else; none of his behavior escaped her. Her mind worked quickly to get around his reluctance.

"I would, except that she seems to want nothing to do with me."

Now he looked back at her intently. "Then I guess you'll have to figure this one out for yourself, Kathryn. You need to hear about Seven's life from Seven, not from me."

Rebuffed, she leaned in again defiantly. They stared at each other in silence for several moments.

"Approach her if she won't approach you, Kathryn. You know how she is about her pride and stubbornness—same as you. So you won't get anywhere unless you put yours aside for her," Chakotay suggested, trying his best to push Kathryn along without holding her hand. He never once imagined that he'd be playing matchmaker for these two women one day…what a funny universe this was.

He wearily rubbed at his eyes. "Sorry to cut you short, but I need to get back to work."

"Understood, and thank you for your help," Janeway replied. She looked at him thoughtfully from across the space. "When did you become so wise, Chakotay?"

He grinned. "After I left your command."

"Ouch," Janeway playfully grimaced, wishing she could smack him. "But I guess I deserved that. It was good to talk again—goodnight, Chakotay."

"Goodnight, Kathryn. Don't back out."

He cut the comm before she could respond.